What’s it Worth: Granny Ann Teapot

Popular among kitchen ceramics, the vintage Granny Ann teapot serves guests with a smile.

In 1946, my mother received this ceramic teapot, marked “Patented, Granny Ann, USA” on the bottom. I’ve always loved it, as have my children and grandchildren. What’s her story? —D.D., Fort Wayne, IN

What’s it Worth?

Your Granny Ann came from the Shawnee Pottery Company of Zanesville, Ohio. Founded in 1937 in an area already famous for pottery manufacturing, Shawnee produced everything from aquarium ornaments to baking dishes to planters before it went out of business in 1961. But Shawnee was best known for whimsical cookie jars, salt-and-pepper shakers and other popular ceramics. Many sold for between a dime and 35 cents, in chain stores like Woolworth and S.S. Kresge.

Your charming teapot figure held up to seven cups of tea, perfect for tea parties! A similar model featured gilt trim. Today, your teapot’s worth about $160.